Salafi Disease of Literalism

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Salafi Disease of Literalism

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Salafi Disease of Literalism

Salafi Disease of Literalism

Author:
Publisher: www.alhassanain.org/english
English

www.alhassanain.org/english

Salafi Disease of Literalism

Answering-Ansar.org

www.alhassanain.org/english

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Introduction to literal approach of Salafi in understanding Qur’an 7

Please see our article: Can the dead hear? 7

Chapter Two: A preview of Salafi claim that whole Qur’an is literal 8

Can Rasool Allah (saww) Help and Benefit us? 8

Who takes the Souls out at the time of Death? 8

Is Allah the only and sufficient Wali (Protector / Guardian)? 9

Is it associating partners to Allah, when we say that Rasool Allah (saww) and some believers are also our Waliys along with Allah? 9

A Side Note: Is it Shirk to say “Ali[as] Mawla”? 10

Can anyone Intercede us beside Allah? 10

Fadhl (Grace / Bounty) is only in Hands of Allah? 11

Is Allah himself committing shirk by saying that His Messenger can also GIVE to others along with Him? 11

Is Allah the Only and Sufficient Helper? 12

Does this verse really mean that Allah is not the ONLY and SUFFICIENT Helper. Are there contradictions in Qur’an? 12

Did Prophet Yusuf (as) become a Mushrik, when he said “Lord” to his Egyptian Master? 13

Need we to comment any more about figurative expressions in Qur’an? 13

Maulana Maudoodi’s attempt to change the meaning of above verse in order to suit it to Salafi Doctrine 13

Some more Examples of Figurative Expressions in Qur’an 15

Is Allah committing here shirk by attributing his Characteristic to Rasool Allah [saww]? 15

Conclusion: 15

Difference between Special and Common Attributes of Allah (swt) 16

Salafiyya vs. Jahmiyya 16

Chapter Three: Is it shirk to believe that Rasul’Allah (saww) can also benefit/help us, along with Allah? 17

Why didn’t they asked Allah DIRECTLY for the cure from sicknesses? 18

Very important rule: Literal approach vs. Hidden intention 18

According to Qur’an, even the shirts of prophets (as) can benefit / help us 19

Umm Salama used to seek help / benefit from hairs of Rasool Allah (saww) against diseases and against the evil eye 19

Can anyone still deny that Rasool Allah (saww) can benefit us? 19

Rasool Allah (saww) used to benefit the newborns by reading upon them and by giving his (saww) blessed breath and saliva in the mouth of newborns 20

Relics of Aale Musa and Aale Haroon benefited Bani Israel 20

Rasool Allah (saww) thought that his (saww) shirt, breath and saliva could benefit the people 21

Rasool Allah (saww) used his (saww) saliva in order to cure the sick 21

Need we to give any more comments on Salafi scholarship? 21

Taking benefits from the places of standing of the prophets 22

Sahaba seeking help/benefit in need from hands of Rasool Allah (saww) 23

Companions of Rasool Allah (saww) sought barakah from his grave 23

Rasool Allah (saww) ordered Sahaba to seek Barakah from the well, where she-camel of Salih drank water 24

Respecting valley of Tuwa and seeking Barakah from it is not worshipping it 24

Umar and Hajar-e-Aswad 25

Salafi attitude towards such type of Ahadith 25

Chapter Four: Asking Allah directly or asking Allah indirectly through Rasul’Allah (saww) 26

Introduction 26

If Allah is (naudo-billah) Deaf that He cannot hear us directly? 26

Allah wants to include Rasool Allah (saww) between Him and His creatures, while Salafi want to exclude Rasool Allah (saww) between them and Allah 26

Hundreds of Ahadith show that Sahaba asked Allah through Wasilah of Rasool Allah (saww) 28

Our Challenge that Rasool Allah (saww) was not a Salafi 28

Hadhrat Musa (as) was also not a Salafi 29

Prophet Yaqoob (as) was also not a Salafi 29

Salafi Aqeedah vs. Our (Shia and Ahle-Sunnah brothers) Aqeedah about asking Allah through Rasool Allah (saww) 29

Chapter Five: An article by a Sunni scholar on Shirk 31

What is Shirk? 31

What is Worship? 32

Chapter Six: Salafi Bidah in respecting the signs of Allah ( شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ ) 34

Sajdah of Tazeem (Prostration of Reverence) 35

Showing Respect (T’azeem) by Going Around (Tawaf طواف ) of shrine of Rasool Allah (saw) 37

Chapter Seven: Umar Ibn Khattab’s disease of literalism 38

Salafies follow only Bidahs of Umar, instead of Sunnah of Rasool Allah (saw) 38

Salafies acceptance that Sahaba used to seek benefit from the Tabarrukat of Rasool Allah (saw) 38

Salafi innovation of denying Barkah in those places which Rasool Allah (saw) visited or rested 38

A challenge to Salafies 41

Bidah of Umar bin Khattab vs. Sunnah of Rasool Allah (saw) 41

And why Madina was given the status of “Haram”? Why Sahaba entered it only bare footed? 43

Umar Ibn Khattab vs. his son Abdullah 43

Chapter Eight: Umar’s literalism vs. Hajar al-Aswad and Tahrif in this tradition by Salafies 45

Salafi objections on this Hadith 47

Answer One: 47

Answer Two: 48

Chapter Nine: Salafies denying any Barakh in Mawla Ali (as) 50

Chapter Ten: Innovations of Salafies regarding places of Ziyyaraat 52

Salafi’s 1st innovation – It’s not allowed to go to any other place of Ziyyarrah except mosque of Rasool (saw) 52

Salafi’s 2nd innovation – Destruction of graveyards in name of Shirk 52

The graves of the martyrs of Uhud (a) 53

Salafi’s 3rd innovation – It’s Haram to seek blessing from the Rawdah of Rasool Allah (saw) 53

Imam of Masjid al-Nabi claims that there is no Barakah in Rawdah of Rasool Allah (saw) 54

Reply 54

Double Standards? 54

Imam of Masjid al-Nabi claims that touching, clinging or kissing any part of Rawdah of Rasool Allah (saw) is shirk and Haram 55

Salafi’s 4th innovation – Prohibiting women to visit the Rawdah of Rasool Allah (saw) 56

Salafies prohibiting women to go for Ziyaraah of that Hujra, where Aisah (a woman) lived her whole life 57

Why you prohibit women going to Rawdah of Rasool Allah (saw), while Aisha (a woman) spent her whole life there? 57

Chapter Eleven: Does burrial of Abu Bakr and Umar near grave of Rasool (saw) benefit them? 58

Chapter Twelve: Salafi objections upon visiting the shrines of Imams of Ahlulbait (as) 59

Kneeling down at shrines of Imams (as) vs. Kissing the feet of Rasool Allah (saw) by Sahaba 59

Umar Ibn Khattab kneeling down in front of Rasool Allah (saw) 59

Chapter Thirteen: Do all types of DUA (Calling) constitue worship? 63

Conclusion 64

Intention of Calling Rasool Allah (saw) for Intercession VS Intention of seeking Help from Relics again Disease 64

Ahadith, which confirm that Calling (saying Ya Rasool Allah (saw)) is not Shirk 64

Chapter Fourteen: A preview of Salafi definition of Wasilah 67

Second Verse on Wasilah (Sura Bani Israel 17:57) 67

Respecting Shaa’ir Allah شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ is also a Wasilah to approach Allah (swt) 68

Umar Ibn Khattab made Abbas as his Wasilah to approach Allah 69

Wrong Translation of verse 17:57 by Salafies 69

First Nasibi excuse for the incorrect translation of the verse 17:57 71

Salafies excuse that verse 17:57 is for polytheists seeking Wasilah 72

Chapter Fifteen: Conclusion 73

Chapter One: Introduction to literal approach of Salafi in understanding Qur’an

Salafis believe that the entire Qur’an is literal and that it is aloof of Mujaz (figurative Expressions). As a result, we witness them interpreting Verses of Qur’an literally. Examples of their literal approach are:

Giving Physical attributes to Allah – Believing that He (swt) has feet, arms, fingers, eyes etc.

Taking the Throne of Allah in a literal sense. They therefore conclude that there exists a big throne upon which Allah (swt) sits.

Taking the literal meaning of Bidah instead of it’s Shari meaning (Detailed articles on Bidah, Physical Body of Allah and His Throne are coming soon Inshallah)

They believe that the dead can not hear.

Please see our article: Can the dead hear?

And many more issues where they use a totally literalist approach.

This disease of literalism is causing immense Fitna amongst the Muslim Ummah and is the main reason why differences between the Salafi and other Sects. We shall seek to highlight that the disease has damaged the Muslim Ummah in the following ways:

It has made Salafism a composition of only 3 things i.e. Shirk, Bidah and Haram.

It has made them take only those that parts of the Qur’an and Sunnah, that suits their Literal Interpretations and Beliefs, that results in them instinctively Neglecting and Hiding the other part of Qur’an and Sunnah, which contradict their beliefs.

In the later chapters, the Salafi attitude of neglecting / hiding / avoiding / discouraging other parts of Qur’an and Sunnah (that contradicts their ideas) shall be discussed in detail, Inshallah.

Chapter Two: A preview of Salafi claim that whole Qur’an is literal

Can Rasool Allah (saww) Help and Benefit us?

Salafi response to above question is “NO”. They say that Rasool Allah [saww] has died and has no connection with this world. And if someone seeks help or benefit from Rasool Allah saww then he will become Mushrik. For example, they deduce from the following verse that Help can only be sought from Allah:

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

[Yusufali 1:5] Thee do we worship, and Thine aid (help) we seek.

قُلْ أَنَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللّهِ مَا لاَ يَنفَعُنَا وَلاَ يَضُرُّنَا

[Yusufali 6:71] Say: Shall we call on that besides Allah, which does not benefit us nor harm us.

The problem with Salafi interpretation is this that:

Firstly, they take into consideration only that part of Qur’an and Sunnah, which accommodates their beliefs, turning their backs on other parts of Qur’an and Sunnah. In fact, there are other verses of Qur’an and many Ahadith of Rasool Allah saww. which clearly show that Help and benefit can also be sought from pious Awliya of Allah and also from those who are known as the Signs of Allah (Sha’air Allah)).

Secondly, they believe that whole Qur’an is literal and there is no Majaz (figurative expression) in it. The reality is that there are both literal and figurative expressions in the Qur’an and it hence the Words of Allah (swt) must be interpreted accordingly. If we fail to differentiate between these two, then several contradictions shall arise in the Qur’an.

It is very important to understand the above two facts. Let us seek some more guidance from Qur’an in this matter.

Who takes the Souls out at the time of Death?

In verse 39:42, Allah is saying that it is He who takes the souls out at death.

اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا

[Yusufali 39:42] It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death;

But in verse 4:97, Allah says that Angels take the souls of men out at the time of death.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلآئِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ

[Yusufali 4:97] When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls

Is it shirk to say that angels take the souls out? Or should we believe that there is a Contradiction in Qur’an? Of course not.

Rule: It is neither Shirk nor Contradiction, but when Allah says that He takes the souls out, then Angels are already included in it allegorically, who take the souls out with the permission of Allah.

It is the case with Help and benefit too. There are verses in which Allah says that He is the only and sufficient Helper in absolute terms. The Salafi ONLY quote these verses. They interpret them absolutely literally and claim that it is shirk to seek help and benefit from Rasool Allah [saww].

Unfortunately they forget the other verses and Ahadith, which clearly show that Awliya Allah can also help and benefit us. The Salafi neglection of these verses of Qur’an and Ahadith are intentional, since such tactical amnesia is the safety mechanism via which they can avoid the Contradictions in their Beliefs.

Is Allah the only and sufficient Wali (Protector / Guardian)?

In verses 4:123 and 4:45 Allah says that He is the Only and Sufficient Protector (Guardian).

لَّيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِيِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ وَلاَ يَجِدْ لَهُ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ وَلِيًّا

[Yusufali 4:123] whoever works evil, will be requited accordingly. Nor will he find, besides Allah, any protector (Waliyan)

وَاللّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَعْدَائِكُمْ وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ وَلِيًّا

[Yusufali 4:45] But Allah hath full knowledge of your enemies: Allah is enough for a protector (Waliyan),

But in verses 5:55 and 66:4, Allah says that He is Wali and along with Him, His messenger saww, true believers who establish prayers and pay Zakaat when they bow down (this refers to Imam Ali [as] who gave his ring to a beggar in state of bowing) are also the protectors/guardians.

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ

وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ

[Pickthal 5:55] Your guardian (Waliukum) can be only Allah; and His messenger and those who believe, who establish worship and pay the poor due, and bow down (in prayer).

وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ اللّهِ هُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ

[Pickthal 5:56] And whoso taketh Allah and His messenger and those who believe for guardian (will know that), lo! the party of Allah, they are the victorious.

Is it associating partners to Allah, when we say that Rasool Allah (saww) and some believers are also our Waliys along with Allah?

And if we accept that Rasool Allah saww. and some believers are also our Waliys, does it mean that Allah is not the Only Wali (i.e. beside Him there are other Waliys too)? And does it mean that He is not enough as Wali?

The simple answer to above question is, contrary to Salafi claim that whole Qur’an is Literal, there are figurative expressions in Qur’an, which must be interpreted accordingly.

Rule: When Allah says that He is the ONLY and SUFFICIENT Wali, then Rasool Allah [saww] and some believers are already included in it allegorically.

(Allah has used the term Wali 43 times in the Qur’an in a sense that He is the only Guardian, or take no guardian beside him, and He is enough as Guardian and on four occasions, Allah has said that Rasool Allah [saww], some Momineen, Gabriel (as) and angels are also our guardians).

Salafi Tactics: You will find them ONLY quoting those verses in which Allah says that He is the Only and Sufficient Wali. And by quoting only these verses (and avoiding the other verses), Salafi try to create an impression that it is Shirk to believe that Rasool Allah [saww] can also be a Wali.

Unfortunately, normal Muslim brother and sisters, who don’t have enough and in-depth knowledge of Qur’an, are all too easily deceived by these Salafi Tactics and they also start thinking that the Wali can be only Allah and that fellow Muslims, who also deem Rasool Allah [saww] as a Wali, are committing shirk.

A Side Note: Is it Shirk to say “Ali[as] Mawla”?

People criticize us for saying “Mawla” to Ali (as). They base their argument on the verse:

لَّيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِيِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ وَلاَ يَجِدْ لَهُ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ وَلِيًّا

[Yusufali 4:123] whoever works evil, will be requited accordingly. Nor will he find, besides Allah, any protector (Waliyan)

We pray to Allah (swt) to give them the “Taufeeq” and “Ability” to see the other part of Qur’an and Hadith too and to take guidance from them.

In fact, saying “Mawla” to Ali (as) is the “Sunnah” of Rasool Allah (saww), when in the valley of Khum, he said:

“For whoever I am his Leader (mawla), ‘Ali is his Leader (mawla).”

So, we only follow the “Sunnah” of Rasool Allah (saw) , when we say “Ali Mawla”. And if these people still want to criticize us, then they have to first issue a fatwa of shirk against Rasool Allah (saww).

Can anyone Intercede us beside Allah?

In verse 39:43-44, Allah says that there is no intercessor beside Allah.

أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ شُفَعَاء قُلْ أَوَلَوْ كَانُوا لَا يَمْلِكُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَعْقِلُونَقُل لِّلَّهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيعًا لَّهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

[Yusufali 39:43-44] What! Do they take for intercessors others besides Allah? Say: “Even if they have no power whatever and no intelligence?” Say: “To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) intercession

But in verses 19:87 and 43:86, Allah says that there are some people who can also intercede for us with the permission of Allah.

لَا يَمْلِكُونَ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَنِ عَهْدًا

[Yusufali 19:87] None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received permission (or promise) from (Allah) Most Gracious.

وَلَا يَمْلِكُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

[Yusufali 43:86] And those whom they invoke besides Allah have no power of intercession;- only he who bears witness to the Truth, and they know (him).

Are we associating partners with Allah, when we say that Rasool Allah (saww) can also intercede for us by the permission of Allah? Are there contradictions in the Qur’an?

Rule: When Allah says that He is the sole Intercessor, then some pious people are already allegorically included in it, who intercede with the permission of Allah.

(Note: There are 10 occasions in Qur’an wherein Allah says that there is no Intercessor except him. And there are 7 occasions wherein Allah says that there are some pious people and angels who can intercede us, with Allah’s permission).

Salafi Tactics: They always quote ONLY those verses where Allah says that all intercession belongs to Him. But they totally neglect and discourage mention of those verses, that state that some other people and angels have also been given the power by Allah to intercede for us.

Fadhl (Grace / Bounty) is only in Hands of Allah?

You will find Salafi often quoting the following verse with great stress.

لِئَلَّا يَعْلَمَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ أَلَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِّن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَأَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

[Yusufali 57:29] That the People of the Book may know that they have no power whatever over the Grace of Allah, that (His) Grace is (entirely) in His Hand, to bestow it on whomsoever He wills. For Allah is the Lord of Grace abounding.

By quoting these type of verses, the Salafi want to compare us (i.e. Shia and our Ahl’ul -Sunnah brethren, who believe that Rasool Allah (saww) has also been given the powers and authority to benefit us) to the Kuffar and Ahle-Kitab (Christians and Jews).

They try to prove that in the same way that the Kuffar and Ahle Kitab committed shirk by having such beliefs, the Sunni and Shi’a have likewise fallen into the quagmire of Shirk.

Sadly, by doing this, they completely neglect other parts of the Qur’an and Sunnah. See the following verses.

وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوْاْ مَا آتَاهُمُ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَقَالُواْ حَسْبُنَا اللّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا اللّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَرَسُولُهُ إِنَّا إِلَى اللّهِ رَاغِبُونَ

[Shakir 9:59] And if they were content with what Allah and His Messenger gave them, and had said: Allah is sufficient for us; Allah will soon give us (more) out of His grace and His Messenger too;

Is Allah himself committing shirk by saying that His Messenger can also GIVE to others along with Him?

يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللّهِ مَا قَالُواْ وَلَقَدْ قَالُواْ كَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ وَكَفَرُواْ بَعْدَ إِسْلاَمِهِمْ وَهَمُّواْ بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُواْ وَمَا نَقَمُواْ إِلاَّ أَنْ أَغْنَاهُمُ اللّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ فَإِن يَتُوبُواْ يَكُ خَيْرًا

[Yusufali 9:74] They swear by Allah that they said nothing (evil), but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they did it after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out: this revenge of theirs was (their) only return for the bounty (Fadhl) with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched them! If they repent, it will be best for them;

And do we really associate Rasool Allah [saww] as a Partner to Allah when we say that he [saww] can also ENRICH the others out of his Bounty (Fadhl) along with Allah?

Salafi Tactics: Since all these kind of verses go directly against the self-invented definition of Shirk given by Salafi, therefore, they are compelled to neglect and avoid them. They discourage the mentioning of these types of verses, because they fear that it will lead the people towards Shirk.

We hope that our dear readers would now be able to better understand the evils of this literal approach. Let us go towards help from Rasool Allah [saww].

Is Allah the Only and Sufficient Helper?

Salafi claim that Allah is the Only and Sufficient Helper. And we (Shias and our Ahle-Sunnah brothers), agree with them 100% on this statement.

Allah says in Qur’an:

وَاللّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَعْدَائِكُمْ وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ وَلِيًّا وَكَفَى بِاللّهِ نَصِيرًا

[Yusuf Ali 4:45] But Allah hath full knowledge of your enemies: Allah is enough for a protector, and Allah is enough for a Helper.

قُلْ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَعْصِمُكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوءًا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا

[Yusufali 33:17]…Nor will they find for themselves, besides Allah, any protector or helper.

Now after saying that we agree with Salafi on this point (that Allah is the Only and Sufficient Helper), we would like to ask Salafi if they too agree with us on the following point:

Our claim is this that when Allah says that He is the Only and Sufficient Helper, then Rasool Allah [saww], Gabriel (as), righteous believers and angels are already included in it allegorically.

Please look at the following verse:

إِن تَتُوبَا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا وَإِن تَظَاهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَاهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ

[Pickthal 66:4] If ye (wives of Muhammad) twain turn unto Allah repentant, (ye have cause to do so) for your hearts desired (the ban); and if ye aid one another against him (Muhammad) then lo! Allah, even He, is his Protecting Friend (Mawlaho), and Gabriel and the righteous among the believers; and furthermore the angels are his helpers.

Does this verse really mean that Allah is not the ONLY and SUFFICIENT Helper. Are there contradictions in Qur’an?

And do we really associate Partners to Allah when we believe that Gabriel (as), some righteous believers and angels can also be our Mawla (guardians) and Naseer (helpers), along with Allah?

If we still follow the Literal Approach and Self Defined definition of Shirk by our Salafi friends, then certainly we are going to make Allah himself a Mushrik (naudo-billah), and along with Him all those too, who believe in Whole Qur’an.

And please also look at this verse:

وَمَا لَكُمْ لاَ تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاء وَالْوِلْدَانِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَـذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا

[Yusufali 4:75] Men, women, and children, whose cry is: “Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from thee one who will protect (Waliyan); and raise for us from thee one who will help (Nasira) (us)!”

When Allah is enough as Protector (Waliyan) and Helper (Nasira), then why these people asked Allah for another person who should protect and help them? And when Allah is giving the attributes of Wilayat (protection) and Nusrat (help) to this person, then why to claim that no one other than Allah can Benefit us (either by protecting or helping)? Indeed there are pious people of Allah, who can Benefit us by the permission of Allah. And it is not shirk to take these Awliya (friends of Allah) too as our Protectors and Helpers, along with Allah (i.e. they are not separated from Allah in these attributes, but Allah has kept them with Him). And the opposite party is Shaitan and his Awliya (friends). If we take Shaitan or his Awliya as our Protector and Helper, then surely it is Shirk.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَةِ

[Pickthal 2:153] O ye who believe! Seek help in steadfastness and prayer.

NOTE: There are a lot of more verses of Qur’an and Ahadith, where help and benefit has been sought allegorically by others than Allah. And one is not allowed to interpret them literally, otherwise several contradictions will appear in Qur’an.

Did Prophet Yusuf (as) become a Mushrik, when he said “Lord” to his Egyptian Master?

And if Salafi are still not ready to accept the use of figurative expressions, then we challenge them to answer this question that why Prophet Yusuf (as) used the word “Rabi” (lord) for his Egyptian Master:

وَرَاوَدَتْهُ الَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَغَلَّقَتِ الأَبْوَابَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللّهِ إِنَّهُ رَبِّي أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَايَ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ

[Yusufali 12:23] But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self: she fastened the doors, and said: “Now come, thou (dear one)!” He said: “Allah forbid! truly (thy husband) is my lord! he made my sojourn agreeable! truly to no good come those who do wrong!”

Need we to comment any more about figurative expressions in Qur’an?

(For us it is clear that Yusuf(as) used this word in figurative sense, as he was grown up in the house of his Egyptian Master)

Maulana Maudoodi’s attempt to change the meaning of above verse in order to suit it to Salafi Doctrine

The above verse of Prophet Yusuf (as) is the biggest blow to the Salafi doctrine, and they are unable to digest it.

Maulana Maudoodi (Alaihi Rehma) is a famous Deobandi scholar from Pakistan and his “Tafheem-ul-Quran” is known as one of the best “Tafseer” of Qur’an vouched as a masterpiece by the Deobandi and Salafi alike. When it came to the above verse, he was unable to digest it and he tried his utmost to change the meaning of above verse, in order suit the aqeedah of the Salafi and Deobandi.

Let’s see what he wrote:

” Normally the “Mufassireen” (have committed a mistake and) taken from it that Yusuf (as) used the word of “rabi” (lord) for his Egyptian Master that how could he fornicate with his wife, as this would contravene his loyalty. But it is not suitable for the Prophets to commit a sin for the sake of others, instead of for the sake of Allah. And in the Qur’an too, there is no example that any of Rasool ever used the word of “lord” for anyone except Allah.”

It’s a very lame excuse from an Alim like Maulana Maudoodi. Qur’an is so clear on this point that there is almost no other “Mufassir” until this century who understood the above verse in a way that Maulana Maudoodi suggested.

Let us see the 2 preceding verses before verse 12:23.

وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَى أَن يَنفَعَنَا

[Yusufali 12:21] The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: “Make his stay (among us) honourable: may be he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son.”

وَرَاوَدَتْهُ الَّتِي هُوَ فِي بَيْتِهَا عَن نَّفْسِهِ وَغَلَّقَتِ الأَبْوَابَ وَقَالَتْ هَيْتَ لَكَ قَالَ مَعَاذَ اللّهِ إِنَّهُ رَبِّي أَحْسَنَ مَثْوَايَ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُفْلِحُ الظَّالِمُونَ

[Yusufali 12:23] But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self: she fastened the doors, and said: “Now come, thou (dear one)!” He said: “Allah forbid! truly (thy husband) is my lord! he made my sojourn ????????? agreeable! truly to no good come those who do wrong!”

So, verse 12:21 is enough to explain that to whom Yusuf (as) addressed as “Rabi” (lord) in the verse 12:23 That’s why all the Muafassirin up till now came to this same conclusion. But since this verse is in direct contradiction to the Salafi self-made doctrine of Tawheed and literalism, Maulana Maudoodi tried his best to give it an another shape, in order to accommodate the views of his Madhab and those of his Salafi friends.

[Even the Saudi published Qur'an in Urdu (which is distributed freely among the people in Pakistan) has also accepted that in above verse Yusuf (as) used the words of "lord" for his Egyptian master.]

After reading the “Commentary of Qur’an” by Maulana Maudoodi, it becomes clear that in case of Tawassul, he is even more extreme than Salafi from Saudi Arabia. This can be seen at several places.

For example, verse [20:96] says that there was Barakah in the dust from where Jibrael (as) passed away. Saudi published Qur’an in Urdu accepted this Barakah, even it is against though their doctrine. But Maulana Maudoodi in his “Tafheem” tried his best to change the meaning of verse and refused to accept any Barakah in it (in next chapter we will discuss on this verse [20:96] in detail Insha-Allah.

Some more Examples of Figurative Expressions in Qur’an

Allah uses the attribute of Karim for himself.

[Yusufali 27:40]…… truly my Lord is Free of all Needs, Supreme in Honour !”

Yet Allah in this same Qur’an also says about his Rasool [saww]:

[Yusufali 69:40] That this is verily the word of an honoured messenger;

Indeed Karim (honoured), when attributed to Allah then it is in it’s literal meaning, and when attributed to Rasool Allah [saww] then it is in it’s figurative/ allegorical meaning. Or do you believe that Allah is himself committing shirk by attributing his characteristic to others than him?

Qawi is an attribute of Allah, yet the Qur’an testifies that Rasool Allah [saww] is also Qawi.

Allah says about himself in Qur’an:

[Yusufali 22:74]…for Allah is He Who is strong and able to Carry out His Will.

And at the same time Qur’an says about Rasool Allah [saww]:

[Yusufali 81:20] Endued with Power, with rank before the Lord of the Throne,

Is Allah committing here shirk by attributing his Characteristic to Rasool Allah [saww]?

In fact, there are several times that Allah is be-stowing a mark of honour on his Prophets [as] by attributing some of his Characteristics for them in Qur’an. For example:

Alim (Knowing): An attribute of Allah, yet Ismail [as] is also remembered as Alim.

Halim (Forbearing): An attribute of Allah, yet Ibrahim and Ismail [as] are remembered as Halim

Shakur (Thankful): An attribute of Allah, yet Nuh [as] is also remembered as Shakur.

Barr (Devoted):An attribute of Allah, yet Isa and Yahya [as] are remembered as Barrand many more…

Conclusion:

The same Attributes of Allah have been used By Allah for His servants too. But it doesn’t mean that these servants of Allah have become Shareholders of these Attributes with Allah. They are not the owner, but only given a part of it by Allah out of his bounty and mercy.

The Salafi cannot simply deny these established proofs from Quran and Sunnah by using their Conjecture (Qiyyas) only.

When we say Allah is Karim, then it is in Absolute/Real sense. And when we say that Rasool Allah [saww] is Karim then it is not in Absolute and Real sense, but we have to do Taweel (Elucidation) that this expression has been used here in figurative/ allegorical sense.

And if the Salafi are still not ready to accept that there is Majaaz in Quran which needs Taweel, then they surely make all the Muslims Mushrik, along with Allah and his beloved Rasool [saww].

Difference between Special and Common Attributes of Allah (swt)

In order to understand what is Tawheed and what is Shirk, it is very important to understand the difference between Special and Common Attributes of Allah (swt).

Special attributes are those, which Allah (swt) has only reserved for Himself. For example “Worship” is reserved for Allah only (for Signs of Allah i.e. Sha’ir Allah, there is only reverence, but no worship). Making Shariah is only a work of Allah and no one can make even a small law at his own.

Whole of Surah Ikhlas is full of these special attributes of Allah (swt):

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِقُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

[Yusufali 112:1] Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

[Yusufali 112:2] Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

[Yusufali 112:3] He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

[Yusufali 112:4] And there is none like unto Him.

But it is not worshipping Rasool Allah (saww) to say that he is karim

And it is not worshipping Rasool Allah (saww) to say that he enrich us through his grace (Fadhl)

And it is not worshipping Rasool Allah (saww) to say that he is our Wali

And it is not worshipping Rasool Allah (saww) to say that he benefit us through his intercession

And it is not worshipping Rasool Allah (saww) to say that he helps us by the permission of Allah (swt)..

If Salafi don’t differentiate between these Special and Common type of attributes, then surely they are going to make all of us Mushrikeen along with Allah and his beloved Rasool (saww).

Salafiyya vs. Jahmiyya

The highly praised Alim of Salafi “Abu Muntasir” writes in his famous booklet “Understanding the Evils of Innovations”:

“The Jahmiyya were a group of people, who denied the attributes of Allah using logic and argumentation, because they thought that would make Allaah similar to a man!”

But when we look at the behaviour of present day Salafi, it seems that:

“The present day Salafiyya are a group of people, who deny the attributes of Rasool Allah [saww], because they think that would make Rasool Allah [saww] similar to Allah!